Tuesday, August 25, 2015

As a married woman, I constantly hear that I can 'have it all' - the family, the career etc. etc. That there is a way to juggle, to have your cake and eat it too.

It's such a lie. It doesn't take into account that women have different limitations and often something has to give. That's why I was so relieved when I heard one speaker at a conference say, "Yes, you can have it all....just not at the same time." Sometimes you might have to wait until the kids are in full-time school or have left home to pursue study or a career. I'm glad I got all of my study out of the way before I had kids....I know I can't cope with both at once.

But what annoys me is that while the message to women is slowly changing, the message to men remains the same....THEY can have it all. They can be a full-time working man and a family man. They can be heavily involved at church. All at the same time.

It's just not true.

I know many women who are privately frustrated that their husbands put work and church above family. But after confessing that, they plaster on a smile and say, "Whatever makes him happy."

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating making family life into some kind of idol. I know families need to put food on the table, and often that responsibility for working outside the home falls to the husband. I'm not advocating that families becoming self-functioning islands who don't need other relationships. I'm not advocating skipping church to have 'family fun time'.

While some women care too much about what their workplace and church thinks of them, so do some men. It's like the responsibility of having a family has become a sort of hobby that they tack onto their life.

The Bible is clear that both singleness and marriage are good things. Paul even goes as far as to say some people should remain single as they have undivided attention to focus on the Lord. I hear some people wanting to matchmake singles who are very, very busy people. Personally, unless some people cut down on their dedication to their career and their extracurricular activities, I don't think they should get married. Where on earth would a wife fit in their jampacked life?

God comes first, but that doesn't mean going on every church roster in existence.

Monday, August 24, 2015

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world - how he can please his wife - and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

1. I've been unwell. I had an iron infusion recently since my most recent blood test showed I am slightly anaemic. I felt fine during the infusion but, 36 hours later I got a headache. I kicked it with Panadol, but it came back with a vengeance along with nausea and body aches and pains.

2. While I was in Albany having my iron infusion, my uncle and aunt from Geraldton came to visit.

3. I don't get time to blog during the day anymore, so I have to do it at night. Some nights I've been out, too tired, or just wanting to sit and relax with Duncan.

4. We had our good friend Alison from Perth come and stay with us.

5. I've been flat out getting Rory's new room ready, washing all the baby clothes we've been given (we have a heap that get shared between all the ladies on the farm), and continuing my decluttering mission.

Monday, August 17, 2015

I've also made a conscious decision this year to not only read more Christian biographies, but more evangelistic books as well. I have had a number of these short evangelistic books/tracts sitting unread in my bookcase for some time, which is a terrible waste. I'd love to give them away, but it's important to actually read it first before I can confidently place it in an unbeliever's hands and know they will be reading about the true gospel.

Religion is for Fools is one of those books. In many ways it is like your typical evangelistic book - short, written by a former sceptic is who is now a believer, covers the usual stumbling blocks to faith such as the historical reliability of the Bible, "I'm a good person," etc.

But in other ways, it's different. Written by Australian comedian Bill Medley (who I hadn't heard of), he explains why he went from religious sceptic to follower of Christ. It's actually a letter to his sister-in-law Rita (who is not Christian), based on discussions they'd had. He then put his thoughts into this book which he hoped she would read and think about. Medley's mission was to investigate the world's five major religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The downside for which he'd be likely to be criticised by non-Christians for is that he spends the majority of the book exploring and defending Christianity, and leaves little room for the others. He acknowledges and defends this though by saying that in his 'journey' to faith, if he found the true and living God, he doesn't need to spend time looking at anything else. One thing he does do though is smash the notion that many Westerners have that Buddhism is all about peace, love and meditation. It just shows that many people make Buddhism into what they want it to be without really investigating its teachings.

The difference between this book and a lot of other evangelistic books is that it's punchy, it's humorous (obviously since it's written by a comedian), and it has some little cartoons here and there. It would definitely be a good book to give to an Aussie man interested in investigating Christianity. It's the kind of book I'd give to my dad if he were interested.

Thursday, August 06, 2015

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:"I will destroy the intelligence of the wise;the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

1. We went to a fantastic Christian conference in Perth in mid July. Having a toddler in tow meant either Duncan and I had to spend time in the parenting room while the other went to the talks, but it was still a great time. Here's Rory at a park in Fremantle while Duncan was at one of the sessions.

2. We celebrated Duncan's 34th birthday on the 21st July. This is the farm-themed cake I made for him (about the extent of my novelty cake-making ability). Rory was NOT impressed that I borrowed his toys.

3. I went away for a weekend by myself. For the last two Mother's Days I've been telling Duncan that the best present I could receive was some time out/a mental health weekend/a 'Sarah retreat'. So, I finally went away to Albany and housesat my parents' house while they were away. It was a lovely time. So quiet....but I did miss my fellows.

4. I had my hair cut off. I figured I'll be going through another postnatal moult soon enough and having a little bubba grab your hair while feeding is not very pleasant.

5. We went to Dunsborough last weekend to see Duncan's family before the bubba is born. Unfortunately Duncan had the flu so he missed out on seeing his relatives. I took Rory out and about a bit. He had a ball catching up with one of his 'besties', Sarah.

Monday, August 03, 2015

It's elders' election time at my church. Each time, we are encouraged to reflect on the Bible passages that outline the requirements of an elder. I'm grateful to be part of a church that takes Scripture seriously:

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach , the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?). He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is trusted with God's work, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:6-9

The questions I have are:

Does an elder have to be married? I've been part of churches where single and engaged men have been elders or nominated to be elders. Christians seem to interpret 'husband of but one wife' differently. Some see it as saying that IF an elder is married, he should only have one wife and not be a bigamist. Others see it as that an elder must be a married man with just one wife.

Is Scripture saying that an elder's children must all be believers? I've seen instances where an elder has adult children, some who are believers and some who are not. Or is it only concerning children who still live at home? What about elders who have babies or toddlers who aren't old enough to understand the gospel yet? Can a childless man be an elder? I know some Christians who think that a man with only child should be excluded from being considered for eldership because the passage says 'children'.

About Me

I had planned to star in an Aussie drama, write novels, live as a suburban yuppie and be married to my Prince Charming. God had other ideas. He surrounded me with Christian friends who introduced me to Jesus. He became my Lord and Saviour when I was 18 and my life has never been the same...it's been more than I'd ever imagined. Now I'm married to my Prince Charming, Duncan, and we live with our two sons on a farm in the middle of nowhere.